Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: November 1991
Genre: Action-Adventure
Nerd Rating: 8 out of 10
Reviewed by Spekkio
The Third Release for the Legend of Zelda Franchise, known as Link to the Past or in Japan, The Triforce of the Gods was originally released in November of 1991. The game was created and developed by the team lead by Shigeru Miyamoto at Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development. Miyamoto is known for his creation of ever popular games like Super Mario Bros. and Star Fox. The development team he was involved in was known for more than just Giant Hammers, Frog Suits, and continuous barrel rolls. He still works on today’s loved characters and even new projects like Pikmin 3 and even had a hand in the development of the Nintendo 3DS.
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is by far one of the best in it’s franchise. They really redeemed themselves from the previous release, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. In this title Link travels the ends of Hyrule to defeat the evil sorcerer, Ganon, and save the seven decedents of the Sages. You encounter various quests along the way helping all the citizens of Hyrule. The games is in a 3/4 Top-Down Perspective, often referred as “Bird’s Eye View.” Many games use this perspective such as: SimCity, Pokémon, and games from the early Grand Theft Auto series. Very similar to the first release of this franchise.
A Link to the Past was highly praised and considered many times, The greatest of all games, The game was re-released for the Game Boy Advance with a built-in multiplayer game called Legend of Zelda: Four Swords as well as it is currently available on the Virtual Console for Wii and Wii U. As well as these releases a “sequel” of sorts was released in November 2013 titled Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.
With the downfall and poor opinions of the second release in the Zelda franchise, the designers reverted back to the original Birds Eye View. Many of the programming sciences used in the first were brought back to this title. Of course with the higher graphics capabilities of the SNES, the developers were able to create a much more advanced version of the original. Several Features were added from the original. In the first title you spend Rupee’s to fire arrows. They added a new number system that logs and shows you how many individual arrows and bombs you have as well as Rupees. They did bring back the Magic Meter from Adventure of Link. You can control Link more than before in this title by being able to walk diagonally instead of only left, right, up, and down. The attack function was arched and put into a swing rather than a straight forward stab.
Many items and features that are commonly known today originated in this title: Pegasus Boots, Master Sword, the Hookshot, and even the Ocarina were introduced in A Link to the Past. Heart Containers were introduced to this franchise as well. Those of you not familiar with Heart Containers, they’re items you acquire along the worlds of Zelda games that increase you maximum health capacity. This heart feature has always been apart of the Zelda games, however the first two titles had one heart that was divided into pieces.
A Link to the Past originated a popular signature gameplay feature. The design and creation of two parallel worlds. In this title there were both the Light World and the Dark World is what’s left of a sacred land after Ganon acquired the Triforce. The corruption of this land is easy to spot with all the pots, rocks, and trees being completely different than its natural state. The Dark World transforms you and you don’t keep your natural appearance, for Link he must get the Moon Pearl to be able to travel around Hyrule.
The story starts similar to many of the plots to follow in the many titles of the Zelda Franchise. You’re a young boy named Link. (Or whatever you name him) It’s storming outside, your Uncle is telepathically given a call for help. Once he leaves you are awakened. You then leave to explore the limited access of the land of Hyrule. Most of the paths and exits are blocked by guards not letting you pass. After a few minutes pass you are stopped with another one of these telepathic messages from the princess telling you she’s held captive in the castle. She also reveals there is a hidden entrance in the garden. When you locate this entrance you then travel the castle searching for her. You then find her in the basement of the castle.
After rescuing the princess, you travel through a secret path in the castle taking you to the Cathedral at the base of the mountain. Once you reach the Cathedral your first goal is made. To be able to defeat Ganon you will need the sacred Master Sword. To get the Master Sword you need to get the three pendants located in various locations around Hyrule. Along the way you receive many items and many quests, but once you get the three pendants you’re again telepathically spoken with by Zelda. This time she’s letting you know the guards are closing in on the Cathedral. Once you get there you get there just in time to receive information from the keeper that she’s been taken to the castle. Once you get to the castle and find the evil wizard you’re too late. She’s been sent to the Dark World. Once defeating the wizard you are cast into the dark world and that’s where the true adventure begins.
Light World
Dark World
The soundtrack to the game was composed by Koji Kondo, known for scoring games like Super Mario Bros. and Star Fox. Kondo and Miyamoto have worked together for years. Kondo has been involved with a big majority of Nintendo games. The overworld theme is in modern terms a “remastered” version of the theme from the original Legend of Zelda. A very beautifully scored soundtrack; the “Forest Theme” is a personal favorite. Many of these songs originated in this game and were later re-scored or remastered and brought over into the later titles.
Overall this game is a guaranteed replay over and over. This is one of those titles you can make friends over liking the mutual game. Generations to come will surely love this classic. With the 2D craze on the indie market, new generations are bound to find these games then play and fall in love with the originals of the titles.
